DIY Gone Wrong: Project Mode

By Mandi 11/18/2013

You Guys. I am so excited for this week of hilarious DIY fails. I am loving all of the submissions (if you havent had a chance to send yours over yet you can get all the info here)

The most common denominator in a DIY fail is this little thing I like to call Project Mode. I am pretty sure that it is a super human power sort of like survival of the fittest,  there is no way that you are giving up until it is DONE. I mean what else would give you the ability to ignore what a disaster your house is,  feed your kids ramen for 3 days,  think it is a good idea to use kitchen utensils in place of tools that you cant find (because of your house being a disaster),  rationalizing the most ridiculous things away,  and keep working until the project is a) done b) gone so horribly wrong you have to step away and compose yourself or c) ruined for all of eternity. Project Mode can be such a jerk.

This desk from Melanie is the perfect example of the haze that Project Mode puts us in:

Hi Mandi! I love that you’re doing craft fails,  Blog land is most often so picture perfect, but DIY-ing is totally trial and error. Happy to share on of my many errors .: )

student desk paint fail

This is my Chevron reclaimed school desk! Like many projects-I just started on a whim the second I felt motivated. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any white paint. I did have some OLD cream colored paint though;  I was in project mode and I was using it! We can see how well that worked out. Turns out, paint DOES go bad! After some extra elbow grease and a trip to my beloved Home Depot, I started again with some fresh white paint and went with stripes instead.

(https://www.finditmakeitloveit.com/2013/07/student-desks-turned-craft-table.html)

 

There are few people who have had the experience of having a major DIY fail on national television. I am one of those lucky people (you can read all about it here) To this day the word Birdhouse triggers my Craft Wars PTSD and I start explaining my side of the story. It is really quite embarrassing.

Lucky for all of us, Sunday sent in a clip of her televised DIY fail…

What’s a good DIY project fail unless it can be televised for all to see? Take for instance my “pallet art” project. Which, mind you, I worked diligently on for a few days only to proudly present my great project on TV.

I can't spell!

“be joyfull, give thaks, pray always.”

The host of our local show were great and we all had a good giggle!

Here’s the link if you want to watch it for yourself: https://asundayafternoon.com/pallet-wood-projects-big-oops/

Does this make you feel a little bit better about yourself? I know I do.

Love Your Guts

15 thoughts on “DIY Gone Wrong: Project Mode”

  1. Oooooh, yeah…. Those are some major fails. Lol. Well, there’s something to learn in all those failing mishaps! I had a dining table that I picked up from the thrift store for a mere $12, and decided I was going to sand it and restain. Um… First attempt doing that. fAIL so hard that I was worried I would have to scrap it. I powered through and turned it I to magic. Ahhhh…. But it was a close one. Here’s the full post on what almost was a disaster. Lol
    https://www.thriftdiving.com/2012/03/colossal-diy-failor-rustic-chic.html

    Serena
    Thrift Diving

  2. You ROCK, Mandi! I seriously love your attitude and that dang smile! Every if you screw up on something you aren’t afraid to let people know that you ( Mrs. Perfect DIY girl) aren’t perfect and you make mistakes too! I really admire you!! Thanks for being YOU! Love your guts!

    Luv, Rachelle

  3. I do love seeing these. They help when I’ve failed terribly at a project. Especially when following someone elses directions and the pictures on their blog look amazing!

    1. Oh, and that reminds me of the time I worked really hard on a particular alphabet project and switched two letters. They weren’t even consecutive! Didn’t even notice it until it was done and framed.

  4. Oh, craft fails are so hard to stomach. How rad is Sunday for sharing that fail?!?!? Even if the spelling was a titch off, her attitude is perfect. Live, learn, and then laugh about it!

  5. So glad I’m not the only one suffering from Craft Wars PTSD! I too had my craft fail televised for the world to see. We should start a support group or something:)

  6. It’s always good to give thaks! A thak upside the head when the mister isn’t listening, a thak of the hammer into a project, the newest hottest footwear craze, Thaks, and of course the new chippy paint design that resembles chevron, only it has little thaks going on.

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